Oakman Inns & Restaurants, which opened the doors of its first pub ten years ago this week, has announced that they have acquired the Freehold of The White Hart, Ampthill from Punch Taverns for £2.6m.

The Akeman recently underwent a major refurbishment. One change has been the display of a large and unusual wall sculpture of a giant Green Man, commissioned by Oakman’s CEO, Peter Borg-Neal, which is made from tens of thousands of plastic straws.

Innovation and the motivation to encourage personal development and improve skills have always been at the centre of Oakman Inns’ HR policies. Judging by the smiles on the faces of their Head Chefs on a study trip last week to Eataly in Bologna – it’s a policy that seems to be working.

Just two weeks after Oakman Inns was awarded the prestigious Princess Royal Training Award, their Human Resource programme received further recognition on Tuesday night at the National Innovation in Training Awards (NITAs) at the Café de Paris in London.

One of the hospitality industry’s leading charities Hospitality Action raised over £20,000 on Wednesday night (1st November) at a fundraising dinner cooked by Michelin-starred Tom Kerridge at The Betsey Wynne pub in Swanbourne, Buckinghamshire, one of the Oakman Inns & Restaurants portfolio.

On 2nd November 2017, Oakman Inns & Restaurants, operators of 20 contemporary pubs across the West Midlands and Home Counties, were celebrating after being commended for their commitment to training and skills excellence by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal at a ceremony at St James’s Palace in London.

Time seems to have flown by since the White Hart at Ampthill was restored to its former Georgian Coaching Inn glory in May 2015. Last year, Oakman Inns, The White Hart’s operators, completely renovated the Inn’s eight-bedrooms bringing them up to 21st-century levels of comfort and service.

Thought to be one the biggest hospitality developments for the last 25 years in Buckinghamshire, Oakman Inns has now taken possession of their new site, The Beech House on Amersham’s Hill Avenue which is set to open its doors in January. This will be the award-winning company’s 21st restaurant and they believe that the number is significant.

Oakman Inns returned to premiership ground Allianz Park for the third annual Oakman Cup on Sunday 22nd October. Each year Oakman Inns bring together the minis teams from their partner clubs for this festival which sees over 500 kids take part in a day of rugby. 

We speak to brother's Matteo and Giancarlo Ungaro to hear their story and how Oakman Inns and Restaurants has shaped their careers in hospitality, bringing them both to General Management level.

Only 2.4% of the UK is now ancient woodland; half of this is under threat. The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity and it is their mission to ensure the survival of our ancient Native Woodlands for generations to come. This Spring Oakman Inns took to the woods of Tring Park to clear ivy from the woodland floor to help The Woodland Trust ensure the stable growth of one of the Nations most treasured flowers, the bluebell.

Oakman Inns are amongst the 40 recipients of The Princess Royal’s Training Award, organised by the City & Guilds Group. Those recipients cover the full spectrum of HR responsibilities including public and private sector businesses and are from industries that include hospitality, healthcare, finance and manufacturing.